Catching Up With the Bologna Murders

One of the great things about travel is being stuck on a plane and catching up with the magazines I’ve been collecting.

Of special note is a fascinating piece in San Francisco Magazine by Nina Martin on Danielle Bologna, the wife, mother and survivor of a family tragedy that began when her husband and two sons were murdered. Martin writes:

Three and a half years ago, when the worst thing that could ever happen to a person happened to Danielle — when Tony and Michael and Matthew were taken from her in a burst of violence that shook the city to its core — she struggled to remain true to the values she and Tony had believed in. Her greatest test came during the preliminary hearing for the accused killer, a 21-year-old Salvadoran named Edwin Ramos who police said had mistaken the Bolognas for gang rivals.

It’s a great example of picking up the pieces of a story when everyone else has let it go. Martin looks at the case from Bologna’s point of view, but also digs into Ramos’ background and the city’s handling of the case, stringing together the story like a master jeweler. It’s a good read for anyone interested in the city’s sanctuary history, but a must for local journalists and those who want to write long-form narrative.

Tree of Life is a group exhibition that celebrates the rich cultural diversity and assorted art styles found at Creativity Explored. The title of the show references the universal image of the “Tree of Life,” which manifests in folklore, mythology, and world religions. The “Tree of Life” is globally known by many different names, for example, The Cosmic Tree, The Holy Tree, Ydryssil, the Bhodi Tree, and The Tree of...